Filing cabinet shell



April 20, 1954 A. STEDMAN FILING CABINET SHELL Filed Nov. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l E 46 39 AL L A N L. STEDMA N ATTORNEYS April 20, 1954 A. STEDMAN FILING CABINET SHELL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1950 N M m 3 3 T D W 2 m m n m s L m A. i M .lr m E a w VJ 5 x 4 4 A L m M; H M v A N A A P A P P 6 P a a w m M w m C 5 5 W x w z w m 5 H a A z k I YIBIIJV/II. v O 9 3 3 2 April v20, 1954 A. L. STEDMAN FILING CABINET SHELL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, 1950 INVENTOR.

AM AN L- STEP/VAN BY @M M A 77'OENE'YS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 FILING CABINET SHELL Allan L. Stedman, Massillon, Ohio, assignor to Convoy, Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 195,949

This invention relates to a shell for a filing cabinet, storage cabinet or the like, to the blank from which it is formed, to the method or methods of forming the shell from the blank, and to certain elements such as drawer stops, stacking lugs, etc., that may advantageously be structurally associated with the shell.

More particularly, the invention relates to a fiber board shell made up of interconnected top, bottom and side panels. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shell not only is of fiber boa-rd but of internally corrugated fiber board in which the corrugations parallel the longitudinal axis of the shell. Preferably, the shell is chemically impregnated, as with sulphur, in order to stiffen it, which can best be done after the shell has been fully assembled; in such case, advantages respecting the completeness of penetration of the chemical or chemicals result from the fact that the corrugations and major fold lines extend in the same general direction.

Objects of the invention are to provide a shell of this kind that is simple, inexpensive to fabricate, but nevertheless sturdy enough to resist the stresses to which the shell is likely to be subject in use. Other objects of the invention have to do with the incorporation in the shell of drawer stops which, as hereinafter explained, are preferably formed integrally with the blank itself. Other objects of the invention are to provide stacking lugs and cooperating recesses whereby two or more shells may be stacked in a manner preventing sliding of an upper shell on a lower shell. Still other objects of the invention contemplate the elimination of the extraneous reinforcing elements, usually of metal, which in the past have ordinarily been necessary to prevent collapse of fiber board shells under load.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings.

In such drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective of a three-compartment cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective of the same cabinet with the drawers removed to show the interior construction; Figure 3 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing one of the drawer stops as seen in perspective but from an angle different from that characterizing Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4 is a development or plan of a blank from which may be formed a shell of the kind used in each of the compartments of the cabinet shown 6 Claims. 312-111) in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a similar view of a portion of the blank of Figure 4, but at a somewhat later stage; Figure 6 is an isometric view of the blank, but at a stage subsequent to that illustrated in Figure 5, as it is being folded on itself to form the shell; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through two stacked compartments employing shells of the kind to which the invention relates, the section showing the parts at the bottom portion of an upper shell A and the parts at the top portion of a lower shell B.

As indicated in Figure 1, a fiber board cabinet, such as a filing cabinet, storage cabinet or the like, may be made up in accordance with the teachings of the invention from one or more fiber board compartments of which three, designated 2, 3 and t, appear in the figure. Compartments 2, 3 and are identical, interchangeable and constructed in the manner described hereinafter so as to facilitate stacking of the compartments on each other. The three compartments embody fiber board shells i, E5 and 1, respectively, along with cooperative fiber board drawers 8, 9 and m. The latter are provided with recessed bail handles ll, 52 and i3 and wire card holders M, i5 and it, all as shown in Figure 1. As appears from Figure 2, compartments 2, 3 and 6 are provided with drawer stops El, E8 and E9, respectively, there being one or more such drawer stops (two being shown) structurally associated with the top of each of the shells and more particularly with cut? portions 29, 2! and 22 thereof.

Preferably, shells 5, and l are made from flat sheets of corrugated fiber board in which the corrugations parallel the intended. longitudinal axes of the shells. As indicated in Figure the blank from which such a shell is formed is generally rectangular in shape. It is divided by score lines into four principal panels, 25, 26, 21 and 28. Respectively, these panels form the bottom, left side, top, and right side of a shell of the type shown in Figure 2. The dimensions of panels 25, 26, 2? and 28 will of course determine the dimensions of the shell, which in a typical case will be somewhat wider than it is high and somewhat longer than it is wide.

Attached to the long side of bottom panel 25 opposite that to which side pane126 is attached is a reinforcing panel 29. Among other things, it is characterized at its forward or front end by a polygonal cut-away portion defined by a squared-off edge Eli and a contiguous angled edge 3i. Reinforcing panel 29 is separated from bottom panel 25 by score line a, side panel 26 is separated from bottom panel 25 by score line 2), top panel 27 is separated from side panel 26 by score line 0, and side panel 28 is separated from top panel 21 by score line d.

Score lines a, b, c and d are on the near side of the blank as seen in plan in Figure 4; i. e., on the side of the blank that is to form the inside of the erected shell.

At the rear or back ends of panels 25, 2%, 2i and 28 and separated from them by score lines e, f, g and h, respectively, are four rectangular extensions 32, 33, 34 and 35. The latter are of the nature of end flaps and thus constitute for closing the end of the compartment at the rear of the cabinet; in addition, they act as rein forcing elements resisting collapse of the erected shell. Opposed to them; that is to say, on the opposite side of the blank as seen in Figure are three more or less rectangular extensions 37 and 38 respectively separated from panels 26, 2? and. 28 by double score lines 7' and la. Like extensions 32, 33, 3d and 35, extensions 35, 3'. and 38 are of substantially the same transvers interests of conserving material preferably are considerably shorter than extensions 32, 33, 3-;

' and 35 in the direction of the intended. longitudinal axis of the shell. Extension 3% is rectangular in shape; extension 3'! is of modified rectangular shape, having appendages for forming the drawer stops as hereinafter explained; and extension 38 has a triangular cut-away portion defined by an angled edge 39 intended to mate with angled edge 31 on reinforcing panel 29. Extensions 36, 3? and 38 on side panel top panel 21 and side panel 28, respectively, of the nature of reinforcing elements and wh n the shell is erected go to make up an inwardly extending cull-like portion corresponding b the three-sided cuff-like portions 20, 2! and 22 shown in Figure 2.

Score lines e, f, g and h and double score lines i, j and 70, like score lines a, b, c and cl, are on the inside or near side of the blank as seen Figure 4.

Extension 31 on top panel 2? is provided with two slots 40, preferably of generally rectangular shape, which are cut by means of a die out of the stock of which extension 3?, top panel all and the blank as a whole are formed. Adjoining each such slot 4% is an oblong appendage separated from extension 3'? by a score line Z and divided by a score line 1 into two sections, 42 and 43. Oblong appendages ii are slig tiy narrower in a transverse direction than slots ii in extension 3! and, in the direction of the long itudinal axis of the shell, somewhat ionger than they are wide. When reversely folded on score lines Z and Z", oblong appendages il form the drawer stops ll, [8 and 19 which appear in meal, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The blank is preferably further provided with a plurality of stacking recesses, the same preferably taking the form of circular openings Q53 and 46 in bottom panel 25. Ordinarily, there will be two pairs of such recesses arranged as shown; viz., a pair of recesses 45 toward the rear of bottom panel 25 and, in axial alignment with them, a pair or" recesses 46 near the forward end of the same panel. Not only are stacking recesses 45 and 46 in alignment in a direction paralleling the longitudinal axis of the shell but where two pairs are provided with stacking re- 4 cesses and arranged symmetrically in such manner that lines XX and X'X drawn through or connecting the two centers of each pair will extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis or" the shell.

In order to provide stacking lugs in top panel 2'! corresponding in number to and located for later registry with stacking recesses 45 and 45 in bottom panel 25, tabs 4"! and 48 are incised in top panel 2'1. Tabs 41 and 48 preferably take the form of circular segments which in shape are somewhat greater than semi-circles; that is to say, the are making up the curved portion of the perimeter of the tab corresponds to an angle greater than 189. Tabs 4! and G8 thus are so formed that they are not completely severed from the stock of which top panel 2? is formed; instead, they are scored along the chords as at m and 12. Like stacking recesses and they are in alignment with each other in a direction paralleling the longitudinal axis of the shell to be formed from the blank. They are also in alignment perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shell in a manner analogous to the lateral alignment characterizing stacking recesses and 46.

However, as indicated in Figure 4, lines YY and YY' connecting the centers of the arcs defining tabs 4'? and 48 are not extensions of but are displaced relative to lines X-X and XX' connecting the centers of stacking recesses 15 and E6. Although othe wise in the same relative position in top panel 2? as stacking recesses and 48 in bottom panel 25, tabs 4'! and 48 are oii'set inwardly from the two ends of the shell. Thus with tabs t? and AS in the positions in which they are formed; that is to say, not folded over out of the plane of the blank, there is imperfect potential registry between stacking recesses Q5 and tabs t? on one hand and stacking recesses 46 and tabs 43 on the other.

In describing the manner of erection of the shell from the blank, it will be assumed that the first step in the sequence of operations is to bend tabs ll and 48 on score lines m and n in a direction away from the inside or near side of the blank until they are folded against the outside or far side of the blank in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. Upon being bent into this position, tabs and d3 leave behind them residual openings to and 5% correspond ing in size and shape to the tabs themselves. After the tabs 4'? and 48 have been bent through an angle of into parallelism with the blank, tabs i? and A8 are fasten-ed in position on the outside or far side of the blank seen in Figures 4 and 5 by any suitable means. Glue may be used for the purpose, but it is preferred to staple the tabs to the blank by heavy steel staples, which can be done in known fashion.

When tabs 41 and 68 have been folded back and stapled in place in the manner described, lines Z-Z and Z'-Z connecting the respective centers as relocated (Figure 5) are necessarily nearer the ends of the shell than were lines Y-Y and YY connecting the same centers as originally located (Figure 4). Assuming that dimensions and proportions have been suitably related, lines Z-Z and Z'Z' when viewed in plan, as in Figure 5, will constitute prolongations of lines X-X and YX' of Figure 4; i. e., the lines joining the centers of the stacking recesses in bottom panel 25. Thus when the shell is assembled, tabs 41 and 48 will overlie stackin recesses 45 and d6. In consequence, two like shells are properly aligned when the stacking lugs on the lower shell are disposed within the stacking recesses of the upper shell.

The tabs 41 and 48 havin been folded outward to form stacking lugs, extensions 3B, 3'! and 38 are folded inward on score lines 2', :i and 70 into the position shown in Figure 5, in which these. extensions and their associated parts overlie the blank on the inside or near side as seen in Figures 4 and 5. Inasmuch as score lines 1', 7 and k are double score lines, they produce a more attractive and somewhat bulkier edge than if single score lines were used: this is desirablein view of the fact that the edge so formed is at what is to be the forward end of the shell. Extensions .6, SI and 38 may be glued to the blank but preferably are stapled in place by heavy steel staples asindicated in Figure 5. In either case, however, appendages d! are not aflixed to the blank in the position which they assume after extension 31 is folded over and fastened in place; instead, they are left free for subsequent reverse folding to form the drawer stops.

This is done by folding appendages ll on score lines Z into approximate perpendicularity to the blank in an angular direction opposite to the angular direction in which extensions 36, 31 and 38 are folded in order to locate them in their intended position. Thereafter, sections 43 of appendages ii are further folded on score lines Z in the same angular direction as appendage ti until the ends of sections 43 have been brought into proximity to slots 40 in extension 3?. Thereupon the ends of sections d3 are manually inserted and held in slots 56, whereupon sections 53 are stapled or otherwise affixed to top panel 21. This gives the configuration shown in Figure 3, in which long section 13 is toward the forward end of top panel 21 and short section 42 lies to the rear substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shell. A strong, rigid drawer stop is thereby provided, such drawer stop resembling a triangular prism in appearance.

All of the folding accomplished up to this time, includin the folding of flaps 41 and 48, the folding of extensions 36, 3? and 33 to form reinforcing means, and the reverse folding of sections 42 and d3 of appendages 4 I; is, at right angles to corrugations 23 of the blank. Thereafter the blank as a whole is folded upon itself in the manner indicated in Figure 6; i. e., parallel to the corrugations 23 of the blank. Bottom panel 25 and top panel 2? will extend horizontally or substantially horizontally, while side panels 26 and 28, together with reinforcing panel 29, will extend perpendicularly to them. Right side panel 28 is brought into position outside reinforcing panel 29 in such manner that upright edge 38 of reinforcin panel 29 mates with the upright or near edge of extension 38 and angled edge 3! of reinforcing panel 29 mates with angled edge 39 of extension 38, all as shown in Figure 2.

The net, result is to make possible a self-reinforced front end construction characterized by a cuff-like reinforcing element ('20, 2|, 22) extending around the greater part, but not all, of the forward end of the shell.- Reinforcing panel 29 extends back along the side of the shell to the rear thereof, adding rigidity as a result of the fact that it overlaps right side panel 28 from top to bottom and from one end of the shell to the other. With these parts in this position, right side panel 28 is stapled to reinforcin panel 29, although, if desired, it may be affixed thereto by gluing or some similar operation.

These several steps having been performed, extensions 32, 33, 3'4 and 35, which as already pointed out serve both as reinforcing elements and as end fiaps, are brought together and closed upon each other in any convenient manner, after which they are stapled, glued or otherwise fastened to each other to form the means closing the rear end of the shell.

Notwithstanding the fact that the description of the invention up to this point has contemplated the use of corrugated fiber board in the blank, it its apparent that fiber board of non-corrugated construction, as well as various other fibrous and non-fibrous materials, may be employed instead. Where fiber board is used, the shell preferably is impregnated chemically after being at least partially erected, as, for example, by dipping the shell in a sulphur bath, the sulphur serving as an introfying agent, allowing it to drain, and drying it at elevated temperatures: this treatment serves to harden the fiberboard, providing a rigid structure which will not readily collapse under load. The beneficial effects of such treatment are enhanced Where, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fiber board has internal corrugations extending parallel with rather than at right angles to the longitudinal axis and major fold lines of the shell, this for the reason that the. path of travel of the impregnant within the cor-.

rugations may then be of maximum length.

Although it is practicable to form the completed shell by performing the various steps in the order in which they have been described, it is feasible to form the completed shell by carrying out the same steps in other sequences. Instead of first forming the stacking lugs and thereafter forming the reinforcing cuif and drawer stops, it is equally practicable to form the reinforcing cuff and drawer stops first, following this operation by the operation of forming the stacking lugs. If desired, either operation or both operations may be deferred until after the shell has been erected by folding the blank upon itself and stapling the right side panel to the reinforcing panel at the opposite end of the blank. The step of closing the rear end of the erected shell will not be ordi" narily carried out until after the rear stackin lugs have been formed, this in order to permit needed access to the interior of the shell in staplin the rear stacking lugs to the top panel.

The completed shell, having first been provided with a cooperating drawer,.may be used alone; i. e., independently of other shells, 'or may be stackedwith one or more like shells as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The coaction between the stacking recesses in the bottom panel of one of the upper shells and the stacking lugs in the top panel of one of the lower shells is illustrated in Figure 7, which is a partial vertical section paralleling the longitudinal axes of the two shells. As there indicated, a self-reinforced upper shell A having in bottom panel 25' two aligned stacking recesses 35' and it overlies and cooperates With top panel 27 of a self-reinforced lower shell B. In addition to reinforcing elements 36 and El, the latter has two tabs folded back upon and stapled to top panel 21' to form stacking lugs .7 and 38' as previously described, leaving tab openings at and 56. As is evident from Figure '7, stacking lugs 41' and 48' register with and project upward into but do not fill stacking recesses 45 and 46 in bottom panel 25 of shell A. Because stacking lugs 47 and 48 project oppositely to each other, take the form of sectors with arcs greater than and are duplicated on the opposite side of the two shells, sliding movement between the two shells, whether lateral or axial, is effectively precluded.

When the shells are equipped with drawers, as will usually be the case, the drawers are preferably of construction analogous to that of the shells; that is to say, they will ordinarily be of self-reinforced corrugated fiber board. If so, they will be found to lend themselves to movement without binding over the cooperating interior surfaces of the respective shells. By means of drawer stops l7, l8 and I9 (Figure 2-), each of which functions as illustrated in Figure 1, the drawers are held against removal by inadvertence. If, however, the drawer is in the position shown in Figure 1 and it is desired to withdraw it altogether, it is only necessary to grasp the outer end of the drawer, elevate it sufficiently to free the drawer of drawer stop I 8, and remove the drawer. Re-insertion of the drawer is accomplished by a reversal of the latter series of steps.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber board shell for a filing cabinet or the like comprising interconnected top, bottom and side walls; reinforcing means extending interior ly of the shell from the forward end thereof, the interiorly extending portion of the reinforcing means being integral with and attached to the top of the shell on the lower face thereof; and, formed integrally with the interiorly" extending portion of the reinforcing means at a point near the forward end of the shell, a drawer stop formed as a hollow prism the longitudinal axis of which runs transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shell, the rear face of said hollow prism extending substantially at right angles to and having an edge that coincides with the rear edge of the interiorly extending portion of the reinforcing means. 1,

2. A fiber board filing cabinet shell as in claim 1 in which the interiorly extending portion of the reinforcing means is provided with an oblong appendage of tab-like proportions which, to impart to the drawer stop its hollow form, is bent forward into contact with the body of the, in.- teriorly extending portion of the reinforcing means.

3. A fiber board filing cabinet shell. as in claim 2 in which the forward end of the tab-like ap pendage is received within a slot, in the body of the interiorly extending portion of the reinforcing means.

4. For a filing cabinet or the like, a chemilcally impregnated corrugated fiber board shell that is substantially longer from frontv to rear than it is in any other direction comprising interconnected top, bottom and side panels in which, in order to hold down the number of interruptions in the corrugations, the direction of the corrugations in said top, side and bottom panels parallels the longitudinal axis of the shell; means closing the rear of the shell; and formed integrally with and as an extension of said panels 8. at the forward end of the shell, an interiorly extending reinforcement tending to resist collapse of the shell under load, the impregnant taking the form of a sulphur-base introfying agent that serves to harden the fiber board of which the shell is constructed.

5. A fiber board shell formed: from a blank of generally rectangular shape that is scored to define at least four principal panels corresponding to the top, bottom and side walls of the shell; a plurality of extensions of the nature of end flaps attached tothe blank on one side thereof, said extensions being formed integrally with but scored to separate them from said panels; a plurality of extensions of the nature of reinforcing elements attached to the blank on the opposite side thereof, said extensions being formed into grally with but scored to separate them from said panels; and, incised in one of said panels, being formed integrally with the blank along their chords tomake it possible to fold them outward through an arc of degrees into contact with the exposed surface of the shell for cooperation with generally semi-circular stacking recesses in another shell.

6. A fiber board shell for a filing cabinet or the like comprising interconnected top, bottom and side walls: means at the top of the shell forming generally semi-circular stacking lugs, said stacking lugs being fastened to the top of the shell; means at the bottom of the shell forming stacking recesses; integrally formed reinforcing means extending interiorly of the shell from the forward end thereof, the interiorly extending portion of said reinforcing means being attached tothe lower face of the shell; and, formed integrally with the interiorly extending portion of the reinforcing means, a drawer stop formed as a hollow prism the longitudinal axis of which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shell, said drawer stop having a partlocated at least as far forward of the shell as the stacking lugs which part depends below and assumes a position substantially at right angles to the. body of the interiorly extending portion of the rein-- forcing means.

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